A 2007 analysis of Census Bureau data shows that "the share of individuals working for an employer that sponsors a health plan (the sponsor rate) has hovered between 81-84 percent since the late 1980s, and in 2005 was 80.9 percent." (p. 5)
Data for this study come from a series of supplements to the Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted by the Census Bureau. The CPS is a nationally representative survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. It is the primary source of data on labor force characteristics of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. The data in this report are limited to wage and salary workers ages 18-64. Self-employed workers are not included in the analysis.